Motion picture system

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose film handling cassette mountable in a viewer to perform alternate operational programs on the film strip, one such program involving the application of a processing fluid to the film. The cassette includes an applicator system having a coating roller, a rupturable pod of processing fluid, a reservoir chamber and a wick connecting the reservoir chamber to the coating roller. This applicator system is mounted for displacement between a first position wherein the coating roller is spaced from the film strip and a second position wherein it engages the film strip. A lever arm extends from a pin having a slotted recess accessible to a sensor-actuator pin of the viewer so that it may be rotated thereby to selectively displace the applicator system into its second position and rupture the fluid pod. The coating roller is adapted to be reverse driven by a film guide roller of the cassette. When the applicator system is returned to its first position, the aforementioned slotted recess assumes an orientation different from its initial orientation.

May 7, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Mason MOTION PICTURE SYSTEM Inventor: Paul B. Mason, Magnolia, Mass.

" Primary Examiner.Fred L. Braun [73] Assignee: Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Assistant 1 fi M he 0r FirmRobert L. Berger Mass.

Attorney, Agent,

ABSTRACT A multipurpose film handling cassette mountable in a Feb; 17, 1972 Filed:

Appl. No.: 227,

02 0 B5 8 Mna 8 5 3 0A2 G9 w .82 15 y 93 m a 5 R 9 8 "m 7 n t. 2 5 m" 3 "H m h u C r.. u a u e u s f. 0 Ste UmF MUN 555 V rupturable pod of processing fluid, a reservoir cham- References Cited lTED STATES PATENTS her and a wick connecting the reservoir chamber to the coating roller. This applicator system is mounted UN for displacement between a first position wherein the 95/89 R X coating roller is spaced from the film strip and a second position wherein it engages the film strip. A lever arm extends from a pin having a slotted recess accessi- Stievenart.........,,

Land et 211...

L ble to a sensor-actuator pin of the viewer so that it an may be rotated thereby to selectively displace the ap- Fukuda....

plicat orsystem-into its second position and rupture Downey...

Landwm; the fluid pod.'-The coating roller is adapted tobe reverse driven'by a film guide roller of the cassette.

Land...

When the applicator systemisjreturned to its first position', the aforementioned slotted recess assumes an orientation different from its initial orientation.

FOREIGN PATENTS 'OR APPLICATIONS 760,370 1,095,664 France 31 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDm 7 m4 SHEET t OF 6 TAKE UP SPOOL DRIVE SHAFT 2I SUPPLY SPOOL DRIVE SHAFT 19 I I DRIVE SHAFT 98 FOR ROLLER 28 CLAW I92 SOLENOID 25 FOR TAKE-UP AND SUPPLY SPOOL sums 21mm SOLENOID 95 FOR ROLLER DRIVE SHAFT 98 SOLENOID 75 FOR SNUBBER PIN T3 SOLENOID I88 FOR PRESSURE PLATE UFTINC PINS 1T SOLENOID I48 FOR SENSOR- D O X MOTOR- II ACTUATOR PIN I46 STEP MOTOR I49 FOR SENSOR- ACTUATOR PIN I46 SOLENOID 186 FOR BLINDER I84 LOGIC i cmcun' I SWITCH ITI FOR LANPITO SWITCH I95 ASSOCIATED WITH SENSOR-ACTUATOR PIN I46 TO DETECT WHETHER PIN I46 SEATS IN RECESS I44 OF PIN I4O END OF FILII SENSOR 190 FOR DRIVE SHAFT 2I SWITCH I93 FOR INITIALLY ENERCIZINC LOCIC CIRCUIT 180 Fig. 8.

PATENTEBIIAY 11314 sum I]? 6 CVIEWER 99TUIINED UN BY CLOSING SWITCH VIEWER DRIVE SHAFTS I9 AND 2I DRIVEN INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH CASSETTE SPOOLS 18 AND 20 BY ENERGIZING SOLENOID 23 VIEWER SENSOR-ACTUATOR PIN I46 DRIVEN AGAINST CASSETTE PIN I BY SOLENOID I48 YES 7 THEREBY ACTUATING SWITCH I BLINDER I84 DISPLAGED INTO POSITION OVERLAYING CASSETTE OPENING 16 BY SOLENOID I86 SENSOR-ACTUATOR PIN I46 ROTATED TO DISPLACE APPLICATION SYSTEM FROM FIG.I POSITION INTO FIG.3 POSITION BY STEP PIN 14s WITHDRAWN FROMCASSETTE PIN MOTOR 149 WITH CASSETTE ROLLER 28 BY SOLENOID 95 DRIVE SHAFT 9B DISPLACED INTO ENGAGEMENT VIEWER PINS IT DISPLACED INWAROLY OF APERTURE PLATE I3 CASSETTE IO BY SOLENOID 188 TO DISPLACE PRESSURE PLATE ASSEMBLY 36 AWAY FROM DRIVE SHAFTS I9 AND 98 DRIVEN BY THE COATING OF FILM STRIP 22 WITH FLUID 116 MOTOR I73 TO ADVANCE FILM STRIP 22 FROM SPOOL 20 TO SPOOL I8 THEREBY EFFECTING PIN I46 DISPLACED AWAY FROM CASSETTE PIN I40 BY DE-ENERGIZINC SOLENOID I48 PERMITTING APPLICATOR SYSTEM TO BE DISPLACED BY SPRING I08 INTO IT'S POSITION SHOWN IN FIG.4

98 05- ENE DRIVE SHAFTS I9 AND RGIZED Fig. 90.

PATENTEDIIAY T T974 sum 6 OF 6 DRIVE SHAFT 98 DISPLACED OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH CASSETTE ROLLER 28 BY IDE'ENERCIZINC SOLENOID 95 VIEWER PINS IT WITHDRAWN ODTWARDLY OF CASSETTE IO BY DE-ENERCIZINC SOLENOID 188 TO PERMIT PRESSURE PLATE ASSEMBLY TO ENCACE FILM STRIP 22 AGAINST APERTURE PLATE I3 BLINDER I84 OISPLACED OUT OF OVERLAYINC POSITION WITH RESPECT TO CASSETTE OPENING 18 BY DE'ENERCIZINC SOLENOID I86 SNUBBER PIN T3 DISPLACED INWARDLY OF CASSETTE IO BY SOLENOID 75 TO RESTRAIN ROTATION OF ROLLERS 32 AND 34 LAMP ITO ENERCIZED BY SWITCH III DRIVE SHAFT 21 AND CLAW I92 ENERCIZED BY 'MOTOR 173 TO ADVANCE FILM'STRIP 22 ACROSS CASSETTE OPENING IS AND ONTO SPOOL 2O THEREBY EFFECTINC PROJECTION THEREOF VIEWER PINS IT DISPLACED INWARDLY OF CASSETTE IO BY SOLENOID I88 TODISPLACE PRESSURE PLATE ASSEMBLY 36- AWAY FROM APERTURE PLATE 13 DRIVE SHAFT 2I AND CLAW 98 DE-ENERCIZED DRIVE SHAFT I9 ENERCIZED BY MOTOR I73 TO RETURN FILM STRIP 22 TO SPOOL I8 DRIVE SHAFT I9 OE-ENERCIZED LAMPITO DE-ENERCIZED BY SWITCH 171 DRIVE SHAFTS 19 AND 2I WITHDRAWN FROM CASSETTE I0 BY OE-ENERGIZINCSOLENOIDZS VIEWER 99 AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF Fig. 9b.

1 MOTION PICTURE SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to photography and, more particularly, to multipurpose motion picture cassette systems having a film processing capability.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many important improvements have been made in recent years in motion picture photography to reduce or simplify the functions performed by the operator. In this respect, cassette or cartridge systems are now playing a major role in this rapidly expanding field. For example, film handling cassettes are now available which are adapted to be quickly mounted as a unit into a carnera for exposure purposes. After the film has been exposed, the cassette containing the film can be quickly removed from the camera and sent to a processing laboratory. Also, specially designed projectors are now available which accept quick mounting cassettes containing fully processed film. These latter systems not only greatly ease the job of projecting the film, but also provide'a convenient permanent storage container for the film, i.e., a cassette from which it is never necessary to withdraw the film for projection purposes.

However, neither of these significant improvements has eliminated the major inconvenience associated with home photography, i.e., the time delay between the taking of ,the photograph and its availability for projection. Additionally, while such camera cassettes simplify the procedures of loading film into and removing film from a camera, they do not simplify the multi-step ability, and to improve the quality of the final product. Typically, the film handling cassettes forming part of such systems include a processing station in which a processing fluid is applied to the film strip after exposure thereof-and as the exposed film strip is progressively advanced through such station. The present invention is directed to an improved arrangement for processing a strip of exposed photographic material in a system of the type indicated.

A primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide'an improved system for applying a processing fluid to a strip of exposed photographic material.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved compact multipurpose motion picture film handling cassette having a film processing capability.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a cassette of the type indicated incorporating a coating roller processing system.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cassette of the type indicated having an improved arrangement for rendering an applicator system housed therein operable.

laboratory development process which requires the repackaging of the film for projecting purposes.

The field of still photography is no longer hampered by extensive periods of delay associated with processing exposed film. The impact on the public of the onestep photographic process employingdiffusion-transfer techniques is a matter of record and generally wellknown; The home photographer can now enjoy the fruits of his efforts in a matter of seconds. This important convenience has been available to the still photographer for many years.

Important technological advances now make it possible for thehome photographer interested in motion pictures to enjoy the same convenience. Radically differ-- ent motion picture systems have recently been developed employing compact multipurpose cassettes permitting the photographer himself to quickly and easily process and project'the film strip shortly after the pictures have been taken. Exemplary of such new and unique systems are those described in copending patent application Ser. No. 738,464 of Edwin H. Land filed June 20, 1968 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,127 issued to Edwin H. Land on Oct. 26, 1971.

In commercial and industrial applications, such rapid motion picture processing systems are not only an improvement as a matter of convenience, but have other important effects as well. For instance, motion picture newsreel programs can be presented on television for the viewing public shortly after events of interest have occurred and been photographed.

Considerable funds and effort are currently being expended to further improve and refine various features of these systems in order to reduce their cost, to further simplify the task of the operator, to improve their reli- Also, an object of this invention is to provide a multipurpose film handling cassette of the type indicated which includes an improved arrangement for indicating when the film strip housed therein has been processed.

Yet another object of this invention is-to provide a cassette of .the type indicated which includes an improved arrangement for controlling the rate at which processing fluid is applied to the film strip housed therein.

A still further object of this invention is to provide improved photographic apparatus adapted to facilitate the processing of a strip of photographic material housed within a compact multipurpose film handling cassette.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved cassette and apparatus for cooperating to perform alternate operational programs on film housed within the cassette, the cassette and apparatus having unique cooperating indicator and sensing means for automatically effecting th desired operational program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its illustrated embodiment, the present invention briefly comprises a compact multipurpose motion picture film handling cassette having an opening to facilitate exposure and projection operations and a processing station to facilitate film processing operations. The cassette is provided with a pair of coplanarly mounted supply and takeup spools and is initially furnished with an elongated stripof exposed photographic material substantially entirely coiled around the supply spool 'and extending through the processing station and when released from such pod, a coating roller and a wick for feeding fluid from the reservoir chamber to the coating roller. When the applicator is displaced into its stated second position, the coating roller engages both an incremental section of the film-strip and a drive wheel associatedwith a roller of the cassette around which the film strip is disposed as its is advanced through the cassettes processing station. In this manner, the coating roller is driven in the direction opposite to that in which the film is advanced through the processing station during processing operations.

Displacement of the applicator system into its operative position is effected by a lever pivotally or rotatably mounted within the cassette and adapted to exert a compressive force on the applicator systems pod under the influence of an externally mounted force applying or actuating member. In this arrangement, as the lever is pivoted from its initial position into a second position, it first displaces the applicator system into its second position and then effects a rupturing of the pod. A compressed section of the. applicator systems wick controls the rate at which the fluid is fed from the reservoir chamber to the coating roller. After film processing operations have been completed and the externally mounted actuating member disengaged from the cassettes lever arm, the force exerted on the applicator system by the aforementioned spring returns that system to its original position causing the lever arm to be displaced into a third position intermediate its first and second positions.

Film exposure operations are conducted with the cassette, mounted in an appropriate camera as the unexposed film strip is advanced past the cassettes opening onto its takeup spool. The cassette may then be removed from the camera andinserted into a viewer adapted to facilitate film processing and projection operations. Such viewer includes a drive shaft adapted to engage the cassettes supply spool and a sensoractuating member which in combination with an associated switch detects the condition of the cassettes lever arm and is adapted to engage the cassettes lever arm and effect a displacement of the applicator system into its second position if that lever arm is in its initial position. Thus the viewer includes means'for sensing whether or not the film strip within the cassette has been processed, i.e., for sensing the orientation of the cassette s lever arm, and programming the system operation accordingly.

Assuming that the film strip has not been processed, its aforementioned sensor-actuating member displaces the cassettes lever arm so-that the coating roller engages both the film strip and the cassettes aforementioned drive roller and the fluid containing pod is rupture'd. Thus processing fluid from the cassettes applicator system may be applied to the film strip as it is returned from the cassettes takeup spool to its supply spool. v

A prism mounted behind the section of the film strip disposed across the cassettes aforementioned opening facilitates subsequent projection operations as a drive shaft of the viewer energizes the cassette 's takeup spool and a claw of the viewer intermittently advances the film strip across that opening on its return to the takeup spool. Thereafter the sensor-actuator member and its viewer and cassette cooperate to perform onlya jection program on the film strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS sette embodying features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic cutaway plan view of a section of the cassette illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the applicator system thereof in its second position prior to the rupturing of its fluid containing pod;

1 FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the applicator system of the cassette disposed in its operable position immediately after its podhas been ruptured;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the applicator system of the cassette at such time as film processing operations have been completed and the applicator system returned to its original position;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view in perspective illustrating the driving arrangement for the coating roller of the cassettes applicator system;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view in perspective illustrating the arrangement for driving the cassettes lever arm;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic cutaway perspective view of a viewer unit adapted to receive the film handling cassette shown in the other figures of the drawings to facil itate film processing and projection operations;

associated switch will receive an indication from that FIG. 8 is a block diagram of operational elements of aphotographic system incorporating the present invention; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B constitute a block diagram illustrating'the operational sequence of a photographic system incorporating the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment'of this invention is illustrated as facilitating the application of a compatible processing fluid to a film structure which comprises both a photosensitive image-recording layer and an im.- age-receiving layer in which a visible image may be formed by image-forming substances transferred by diffusion from the photosensitive layer without necessitating the subsequent removal of the processed photosensitive layer..This highly desirable type of film structure is made possible by a developed negative image having low covering power.

In typical silver halide diffusion-transfer reversal processes for the production of black-and-white images, a silver halide developer and a silver halide solvent are applied in an aqueous alkaline solution to a photoexposed silver halide stratum or emulsion where they develop exposed silver halide to silver and reactwith unreduced silver halide to form a soluble silver complex. This complex, in order to form a positive print, is transferred and reduced to silver on a silverreceptive stratum upon which the silver halide stratum has been superposed. It has generally been the practice, in the completion of this process, to separate the silverreceptive and silver halide strata in order to render the positive image visible, particularly when it is to be viewed in transmitted light.

However, as indicated above, the positive print may be rendered visible without separation of the silver halide and silver receptive strata. For example, the silver receptive stratum may be so constituted as to provide an unusually vigorous silver precipitating environment which causes the silver deposited upon it, in comparison with silver developed in the silver halide stratum, to possess very high covering power, i.e., opacity for a given mass of reduced silver. If the silver halide is in such a concentration as to give rise only when fully developed to a predetermined low maximum density, and if the silver complex is reduced to silver in a vigorous silver precipitating environment, the resulting negative and positive images in superposition provide a composite that presents a good image for projection purposes as long as the images are carried on a light-transmitting support. Since the silver halide stratum and the silver receptive stratum need not be separated, a simplification of the overallsilver halide diffusion-transfer reversal process is achieved.

A composite film assembly of this type as well as processing compositions for producing a stable black-andwhite image which can be viewed by transmitted light without the necessity of removing the processed negative image-containing photosensitive layer isshown in prior US. Pat. No. 2,861,885 of Edwin H. Land which issued on Nov. 25, 1958. Other composite film assemblies capable of producing photographic records which can be exhibited in full color without the necessity of removing the processed photosensitive layer are shown in prior US. Pat. of Edwin H. Land Nos. 2,726,154 issued Dec. 6, 1955 and 2,944,894 issued July 12, 1960. All of these prior patents are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

However, it should be noted that the present invention is not directed to the chemistry by which visible images are formed in an exposed photosensitive material and/or formed in an image-receiving stratum associated therewith. While an illustrated preferred embodiment of this invention is shown effecting the application of a compatible processing fluid to a film structure not requiring the removal of the photosensitive layer after visible image formation is completed, the invention itself is also applicable for use with other types of processing fluids and film structures.

The illustrated preferred embodiment of this invention may best be understood by first referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates a cassette l0 typical of the type with which the present invention is intended to operate. As shown therein, the compact multipurpose film handling cassette It) is basically constituted by a pair of housing members 12 and 14 connected together to form an enclosed opaque housing. Cut out portions of these housing members 12 and 14 define an opening or film gate 16 through which image carrying light rays may enter and/or leave the cassette l0 and, further, which facilitates the positioning of an aperture plate of a camera and/0r projector in operative relationship to elements of the cassette. FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates such an aperture plate 13 of a pins 17 of that viewer unit, the function of which will 1 I be explained hereinafter.

In this embodiment, the cassette 10 is relatively flat and generally rectangular parallelepiped in configuration. A supply spool 18 and a takeup spool 20 are coplanarly mounted within'the cassette It) for rotation about parallel axes. A strip of initially unexposed photographic material 22, of the type previously discussed and provided with perforations 24 (See FIG. 6) and leaders respectively affixed to the supply spool 18 and to the takeup spool 20, is initially substantially entirely coiled around the supply spool 18. Passing from the supply spool 18 to the takeup spool 20, the strip of photographic material 22 sequentially travels around rollers 26, 28, 30', 32 and 34. Advantageously, the the rollers 30 and 32 are positioned in respective corners or extremities of the cassette 10 on the same side of the supply spool 18 and the takeup spool 20. Additionally, the roller 28 is advantageously positioned in the corner of the cassette 10 disposed on the other side of the supply spool 18 from the takeup spool 26 and on the opposite side of those spools from the rollers 30 and 32.

Mounted within the cassette 10 so as to be in alignment with its opening 16 is a pressure plate assembly 36 in which is mounted a light reflecting element 38. The wall 40 of the cassette 10 includes an opening 42 communicating with the cassettes film gate 16 and aligned with the light reflecting element 38. Thus the light reflecting element 38 is disposed in operable relationship to both the openings 16 and 42 of the cassette 10. In the preferred embodiment, the light reflecting element 38 is prismatic in nature and includes a light receiving transparent face adjacent the opening 42 and a reflecting surface which reflects light received into the element through that transparent face outwardly thereof through a convex transparent face disposed adjacent the cassettes opening 16. This arrangement permits light rays from an externally mounted source of illumination to be introduced into the cassette 10 through its opening 42 and then redirected outwardly thereof through its film gate 16.

The pressure plate assembly 36 includes a leaf spring 44 which seats against a boss 46 formed integrally with the housing member 14 to continually urge the pressure plate assembly towards the cassettes opening 16. At the same time, this arrangement permits the pressure plate assembly 36 to be displaced inwardly of the cassette 10 away from the opening 16 whenever the aperture plate of a camera or of the viewer 99 is positioned in operative relationship therewith. In this connection, the pins 17 may be selectively driven inwardly of the cassette to displace the pressure plate assembly 36 away from the aperture plate 13 to relieve friction on the film strip 22 and thereby facilitate rewind of the film strip onto the supply spool 18 when the cassette is in the viewer 99. Forming part of the pressure plate assembly 36 is a mounting bracket 48 which serves to fixedly position the light reflecting element 38 with respect to the pressure plate assembly and, more particularly, with respect to. an aperture 50 of that assembly.

Mounted interiorly of the cassette 10 is a light sealing member 52 which extends adjacent the film strip 22 from a position in the vicinity of the roller 30 to within the vicinity of the roller 32. This light sealing member 52 extends adjacent the edge of the opening 42 pro- 7 v vided in the wall 40 thereby cooperating with the housing members 12 and 14 to define a first sectionof the cassette in which the spools 18 and 20 are positioned which is sealed in a light-tight manner from that portion of the cassette in which the light reflecting element 38 is located.

The cassette 10 further comprises a normally inoperative processing station 58 including an applicator system 60 for selectively applying a processing fluid to incremental sections of the film strip 22. The nature of 10 in the viewer 99 the supply spool 18 and takeup spool 20 are respectively selectively engaged by drive shafts l9 and 21 operated by a solenoid 23 of that unit (See FIG. 8). Thus, the cassette 10 includes means for reversibly transporting the strip of photographic material '22 through a normally inoperative processing station 58 disposed intermediate the rollers 28 and 30 and across the pressure plate assembly 36. The cassettes opening 16 serves to define an exposure station during a first pass of the photosensitive film strip 22 across the.

pressure plate assembly 36 and to define a projection station during subsequentoperations in which the film strip, in a fully processed condition, is advanced from the supply spool 18 to the takeup spool 20.

It should also be noted at this point that aresilient member 72 is connected to the inside face of the wall 40 by any suitable means, such as rivets 74, and extends over and in spaced apartrelationship to the end surfaces 76 and 78 of the rollers 32 and 34, respectively. Provided in the wall 40 is an aperture 80 disposed over the resilient member 72 whereby a snubber pin 73-(See FIG. 7) of the viewer 99 may be selectively introduced into the cassette 10 upon operation of a solenoid 75 (See FIG. 8) to urge the resilient members end portions 82 and 84 into frictional engagement with the rollers 32 and 34, respectively, to restrain further rotational movement of those members. Rotation of these rollers 32 and 34 may also be restrained by an appropriately positioned snubber pin when the cassette 10 is mounted in a camera (not shown). In order to effectively light seal the interior of the cassette 10, a ring 86 mounted on the resilient member 72 is coaxially disposed with respect to the aperture 80'and adapted to seat in an annular recess 88 of the cassettes wall 40.

Roller 30, around which the film strip 22'passes on its way from the supply spool 18 to the pressure plate assembly 36 may, if desired, be mounted on a movable post spring biased towards the corner which it occupies in the housing of the cassette 10 and capable of being moved resiliently inward away from that corner. Also, roller 32 may be spring biased towards the corner which it occupies in the housing of the cassette 10and capable of being moved resiliently inward away from that corner. This represents one way to minimize strain exerted .on thefilm strip 22 by conventional intermittent film advancement structure during exposure and 8' projection'operations. The intermittent film advancement mechanism of the viewer 99 may include a conventional claw 192 See FIG. 8) and drive therefor.

Preferably, during film processing operations the film strip 22 is advanced through the cassettes processing station 58 at a constant speed. In this connection, the roller 28 is adapted to be driven at a constant rate of speed at such time by a drive shaft of the viewer 99. As best shown in FIG. 6, a circular projection 90 of the roller 28 extends through an opening 92in the cassette s wall 94 and is provided with a plurality of radially extending slots 96. Complementary annular projections (not shown) respectively extending into overlapping relationship from the roller 28 andthe inside face of the wall 94 serve to preclude light rays from penetrating into the interior of the cassette 10 through its opening 92. Anexternally mounted force applying member which, in the preferred embodiment," comprises a specially configureddrive shaft 98 of the viewer unit 99 shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, is adapted to be selectively displaced into engagement with the slots 96 under the influence of a solenoid and to effect a constant speed rotation of the roller 28 in a co'unterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. -1 and 6 of the drawings under the influence of a step-motor 144 (See FIG. 8). In this manner, after the film strip 22 has once been transported onto the takeup spool 20 from the supplyspool 18, it may be drawn through the processing station 58 at a constant speed while being returned to the supply spool and wrapped therearound in turns of increasing radii. The supply spool 18 is drive-n through a slip clutch drive shaft mechanism of the viewer unit 99 at such times so as to maintain a constant tension on that portion of the film strip 22 disposed around the roller 28. Back tension may be applied to the film 22 as it is advanced through the processing station 58 by applying a limited amount of braking force to the takeup spool 20 through its drive shaft 21 slip clutch arrangement.

An important aspect of this invention is the cassette s applicator system 60 and the arrangement for rendering such system operable to facilitate film processing operations. This applicator system 60 comprises a housing 100 pivotally mounted within the cassette 10 on a pin 102 for displacement between a first inopera-' tive position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and a second position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Pivotal movement of the applicator system 60 in a clockwise direction as viewed in these drawings is limited by a stop104, while pivotable movement thereof in a coun-.

- terclockwise direction is limited by a stop 106. A spring i 108 acting against the housing 100 continually urges the applicator system 60 into its inoperative position, i.e., its position depicted in FIG. 1 wherein it is seated against the stop 106.

Positioned against a support surface 110 within a first section 112 of the housing 100 is rupturable pod or container 114 which initially contains a quantity of processing fluid 116 suitable to form visible images from images recordedon the film strip 22 during exposure operations. Typically, the walls of the rupturable pod 114 may consist of an outer layer of pouch or glassine paper, an intermediate layer of lead foil and an inner liner of polyvinylchloride material. Thepolyvinylchloride layers are bonded together adjacent their edge portions to effect the sealing of the fluid filled cavity with a seal 118 being substantially weaker than the seals around the other edges of the pod 114. In order to fixedly position the pod 114 within the section 112 of the applicator system 60, it may be adhered by any suitable means to the support surface 110. The end of the pod 114 comprising the weakened seal 118 is disposed immediately above a reservoir chamber l20.provided within the housing 100. Disposed over the pod 114 is a pressure plate 122 which is adapted to be displaced inwardly of the housing 100 towards the support surface 110 to exert a compressive force against the rupturable pod 114. Thus, it will be appreciated that when this pressure plate 122 is displaced inwardly of the applicators housing with sufficient force, that the pods weakened seal 118 will rupture responsive to a predetermined hydraulic pressure being developed within theprocessing fluid 116. At such time, the processing fluid 116 initially housed within the pod 114 will be expelled therefrom into the applicator systems reservoir chamber 120.

Rotatably mounted in the housing 100 of the applicator system 60, is a'coating roller 124 located to engage a section of the film strip 24 disposed in the cassettes processing station 58 whenever the applicator system 60 is displaced into its position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. One end 126 ofa wick 128 is seated against a section of the peripheral surface 132 of the coating roller 124, while its other end 130 extends into the applicator systemsreservoir chamber 120. In this manner, means are provided for feeding processing fluid contained within the reservoir chamber 120 by capillary action to the coating roller 124.

As best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, a drive wheel 134 is axially connected to the coating roller 124. This drive wheel is adapted to engage an annular projection 136 provided on the cassettes roller when the applicator system is displaced into its operative position shown in FIG. 3. The operating surfaces of these elements, i.e.,of the drive wheel 134 and annular projection 136, are preferably formed of a high friction material such as a synthetic rubber or polyurethane to minimize slippage therebetween during film processing operations.

The peripheral surface of the roller 30 is formed with a pair of spaced apart shoulders 156 and 158 (See FIG. 5) disposed a greater distance from the axis of the roller than are those portions of the rollers peripheral surface intermediate thereof. These shoulders 156 and 158 are sized and spaced apart a carefully predetermined distance so that respective edge sections of the film strip 22 are seated thereon as the film strip passes therearound. In this connection, the portion of the film strip 22 adapted to have images recorded thereon is positioned intermediate of the shoulders 156 and 158 and, consequently, out of contact with the rollers peripheral surface. This arrangement precludes any contact between the roller 30 and the portion of the film strip 22 adapted to be exposed and processed. It will be noted that the roller 30 is provided with an axially extending recess 160 adapted to facilitate its mounting on a post 162 formed integrally with and extending from the cassettes wall 40. To provide for ready rotational movement of the roller 30 within the cassette 10, it is highly desirable that those portions of the roller adapted to contact the post 162 and the post 162 itself be formed of a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction. For instance, the main body portion 164 of the roller 30 may be formed of a low frictionpolymeric material such as an acrylic, a polystyrene or acetal. In contrast thereto, itis desirable that relatively high frictional forces exist between the film strip 22 and the portions of the roller 30 adapted to contact same. Therefore, preferably, the shoulders 156 and 158 may, for instance, comprise a relatively high friction polymeric material such a's'a synthetic rubber or a polyurethane. As indicated, the opposite edges of the film strip 22 seat on respective shoulders 156 and 158 of this relatively high friction material. In this manner, relatively low frictional forces are effected between the roller 30 and the post 162, while relatively high frictional forces are effected between that roller and the strip of photographic material 22.

Advantageously, the roller 30 may be formed by an inexpensive two-step injection molding process employing the materials suggested.- First, its main body portion 164 is formed in an injection mold. Then this portion 164 is employed in a second injection molding process wherein the relatively high friction material, including the shoulders 156 and 158 and the peripheral surface of the annular projection 136, is formed around the periphery of the rollers main body. It will also be appreciated that,if desired, the other rollers of the cassette 10 may comprise a similar arrangement except, of course, they would not include the circular projection 136.

In this arrangement, the coating roller 124 is driven in the direction opposite to that which'the film strip 22 is advanced through the processing station 58 at such time as the applicator system 60 is rendered operable. More specifically, during such processing operations, the film strip 22 is advanced through the processing station 58 by the aforementioned action of the roller 28 thereby imparting a counterclockwise rotation to the cassettes roller 30 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawingswhich roller, in turn, drives the coating roller 124 in a clockwise direction.

Displacement of the applicator system 60 from its initial position depicted in FIG. 1 of the drawings into its operable position depicted in FIG. 30f the drawings and the rupturing of the pod 114 is effected by a lever arm 138. This lever arm 138 is integrally formed on a pin 140 journaled between the cassettes walls 40 and 94 as best'shown in FIG. 6. One end of the pm 140 terminates in a circular extension 142' set flush with the outside face of the cassettes wall 40 and which is provided with a slotted recess 144 adapted to receive an externally mounted force applying member (See FIG. 6). In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, this force applying member comprises a sensor-actuating v 138 is seated against a post extending from the inside face of the cassette s wall 94 which serves to limit the extent to which the lever arm can be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Subsequent to film exposure operations during which, as will be more fully explained, the film strip 22 is advanced 1 1 i from the supply spool 18 onto the takeup spool 20, the processing station 58 may be rendered operable by employing the sensor-actuating pin l46'to effect a displacement of the cassettes lever arm from its position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings into its position shown in FIG. 3. As the lever arm begins to move away from the post 150 it engages the pressure plate 122 of the applicator system 60 and causes the entire applicator system to pivot on the pin 102 into its position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. At such time as the lever arm has been displaced into its position shown in FIG.'2, the applicator system is seated against the stop 104 against the force'exerted on its housing 100 by the spring 108 and the coating roller 124 is firmly engaged against an incremental section of the film strip 22. However, the processing fluid 116 is still retained within the pod 114. Further displacement of the housing 100 in a clockwise direction is precluded by the stop 104. Continued displacement of the lever arm 138 by the step motor 149 into its position shown in FIG. 3 causes the weakened seal 1 18 of the pod or container 114 to rupture and the processing fluid to be expelled from that pod into the applicator syste'rns reservoir chamber 120. At such time, a certain amountofthis processing fluid 116 is drawn from the reservoir chamber 120 and fed to the I coating roller 124 by the wick 128. Also, it will be re.-

called that the drive wheel 134 is now firmly seated against the annular projection 136 of the roller 30 so that subsequent advancement of the exposed film strip from the takeup spool 20 onto the supply spool 18 effects a clockwise rotation (as viewed in FIG. 3) of the coating roller. This'coating roller 124 thus pumps processing fluid 116 from the .wick 128 to form a meniscus 152 of fluid between the roller and the film strip 22.

When processing operations are completed, the pin 146 is withdrawn from the slottedrecess 144 permitting the spring 108 to return the housing 100 to its ini-' sure plate 122 only displaces the lever arm 138 into a third position as shown in FIG. 4 intermediate its positions depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. Thus, prior to film processing operations the slotted recess 144 is in its position shown in FIG. 1 oflthe drawings. When processing operations have been completed, this slotted recess 144 is in its position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. It will be recognized that this arrangement provides the cassette with means for indicating to the viewer 99, i.e., through the viewers sensoractuator pin 146, whether or not the film strip within the cassette has been processed.

The rupturable pod 114 initially contains a quantity of the processing fluid 116 slightly in excess of that required to form visible images from the images recorded on the entire length of the film strip22 during exposure operations. In this respect, it is desirable that the wick 128 be selected to have a storing capacity for at least the excess amount of the fluid 116. Thus, after film processing operations are completed, all of the excess fluid 116 is retained in the wick 128. I

Typically, the wick 128-maybe formed of any suitable material such as afibrous cotton web. Further, it is desirable that the applicator system 60 include means for controlling the maximum rate at which the processing fluid 116 may be drawn from the reservoir chamber 120 and applied to the film strip 22. Such means may take any one of a variety of forms, e.g., controlling the pump roll speed, optimizing the lift height of the wick 128, providing valve means between the wick and the coating roller 124, etc. However, in the preferred embodiment, such means are provided by compressing a section 154 of thewick material so that this section of the wick 128 offers a greater resistance to capillary fluid flow than that offered by its other-sections.

The cassettes housing members 12 and 14 and certain other parts of the cassette I0, e.g., the posts 162, the boss 46, the light sealing member 52, the spools 18 and 20, the assembly comprising the lever arm 138, the pin 140, the housing of the applicator system 60 and the pressure plate 122 may, if desired, also be formed from an acrylic, a polystyrene or acetal thermoplastic resin in inexpensive injection molding processes.

Various details of the cassette 10 do not constitute part of the present invention and, obviously, may readily take forms other than those described. Some of these features, e.g., the pressure plate assembly, the constant speed drive, the light reflecting element, and the snubbing arrangement are the subject of earlier filed applications assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

For exposure purposes, the cassette 10 is mounted in anappropriate camera (not shown) with the drive means of the camera engaging the fluted recess 64 of the takeup spool 20 through a friction clutching arrangement as, is conventional. While the particular camera employed does not form part of the present invention, it should be noted that it should include an actuator pin located to enter the cassette 10 through its aperture to restrain rotation of the cassettes rollers 32 and 34 at least during film exposure operations. The aperture plate of the camera, which may also take a conventional form, operably engages the cassettes pressure plateassembly 36 to'position the section of the film strip 22 disposed thereacross in the proper focal plane. Also, a conventional intermittent film advancement mechanism of the camera engages the perforations 24 of the film strip 22 to effect its proper step advancement across the pressure plate assembly 36. In this manner, the operator can selectively record images on the photosensitive film strip 22 as it traverses the cassettes opening 16 on its way from the supply spool 18 to the takeup spool 22. In the embodiment illustrated, the photosensitive surface of the film strip 22 faces inwardly of the cassette 10 such thatexposure of the photosensitive emulsion is effected through its transparent film base. After the film strip 22 has been completely exposed, the cassette can be quickly removed from the camera and replaced, when desired, by an identical cassette containing unexposed film. During these exposure operations, the film strip 22 is advanced from its initial position around the supply spool 18 to a position where it is coiled around the takeup spool 20 with the cassettes processing station 58 remaining in ,its normally inoperative position, i.e., in ,its condition '13 appropriately provided in the viewers top panel 168. When fully inserted therein, the light reflecting element 38 of the cassette is disposed in operable relationship with a projection lamp 170 of the viewer 99. The lamp 170 is arranged to be selectively energized by a switch 171 (See FIG. 8) of the viewer 99. Further, at such time, the apertures 66 and 68 of the cassette 10 are respectively aligned with the aforementioned axially displaceable drive shafts 19 and 21 (See FIG. 8) connected to the viewers'motor 173 through conventional slip-clutch arrangements. Thus, the viewer includes means for selectively and alternately driving the supply spool 18 and takeup spool 20 of the cassette 10 pending patent application Ser. No. 838,793 filed on July 3, 1969 by Philip G. Baker.

Mounted within the viewer 99, as previously indicated, for selective axial displacement toward and away from the cassette 10 is the snubber pin 73 which is axially aligned with the cassettes aperture 80 once the cassette 10 has been fully inserted into the viewer. Thus, the solenoid 75 (See FIG. 8) may be subsequently selectively energized to restrain rotation of the cassettes rollers 32 and 34.

Further, when the cassette 10 is disposed in its operative position within theviewer 9.9, the viewers drive shaft 98 is axially aligned with the cassettes roller 28 and the viewers sensor-actuator pin 146 is axially aligned with the cassette pin 140. Therefore, solenoids 95 and 148 may be subsequently energized to respectively engage the drive shaft 98 with the slots 96 of the roller 28 and theflattened end 147 of the sensoractuator pin 146 with the slotted recess 144 of the cassettes pin 140 (See FIG. 6). In this connection, it should be noted that the initial axial orientation of the slotted recess 144 (Also see FIG. 1) is such as to be aligned with the initial axial orientation of the flattened end 147 of the sensor-actuator pin 146. The cassettes processing station 58 can then selectively be rendered operative by energizing the viewers sensor-actuator pin 146 by the step motor 149.'This operation has the effect of displacing the cassettes applicator system 60 from its position and condition depicted in FIG. 1 of the drawings into its position and condition depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The drive shaft 98 may thus subsequently be energized by the viewers motor 173 simultaneously with the actuation of the viewers drive shaft 19 to effect the return of the exposed film strip from the cassettes takeup spool onto its supply spool 18. As previously indicated, at such times the film strip is advanced at a constant speed through the cassettes operative processing station 58.

After the film strip 22 has been treated with the processing fluid 116 during its return to the supply spool 18, the solenoid 148 associated with the sensoractuator pin 146 may be deenergized to effect its disengagement with the cassette s pin 140 whereby the eassettes spring 108 willeffect a return of the cassettes applicator system 60 into itsposition and condition depictedin FIG. 4 of the drawings. It is important to note that, at such time, the axial orientation of the slotted recess 144 of the pin is no longer in alignement with the original axial orientation of the flattened end of the viewers sensor-actuator pin 146, to which axial position the sensor-actuator pin is automatically returned by the step motor 149 whenever it is withdrawn away from the cassette 10. It will thus be appreciated that the axial orientation of the cassette s slotted recess 144 constitutes means for indicating to the viewer whether the film strip 22 has been treated with the processing fluid 116. Further, the sensor-actuator pin 148, with its axially oriented flattened head 147, and in conjunction with a switch (See FIG. 8) actuated responsive to the pin 148 seating in slotted recess 144, i.e., it detects the extent of axial displacement of the pin 148 towards the cassettes pin 140 and therefore the processed or unprocessed condition of the film strip 22 within the cassette 10, constitutes means for the viewer 99 to'sense such indication from the cassette.

To facilitate film processing operations, or for that matter any operations involving the return of the film strip 22 from the takeup spool 20 to the supply spool 18 when the cassette is in the viewer 99, it is desirable to reduce frictional forces acting against the film. In this connection, the viewer 99 includes a solenoid 188 depicted in FIG. 8 of the drawings for selectively displacing pins 17 See FIG. 1) inwardly of the cassette 10 against its pressure plate assembly 36. This action causes the pressure plate assembly 36 to move inwardly of the cassette thereby releasing the film strip 22 from its frictional engagement between the cassettes pressure plate assembly and the viewers aperture plate 13.

The viewer includes a blinder 184( See FIG. 1) which is displaceably mounted for selective movement responsive to the energizing of a solenoid 186 (Depicted in FIG. 8) between its normal position wherein it is disposed .out of alignment with the cassettes film gate or opening 16 and its position depicted in phantom wherein it overlies that opening 16. Duringfilm processing operations, i.e., during that period of time when the cassettes processing station 58 is rendered operable and the film strip 22 is advanced therethrough at a constant speed towards the supply spool 18, the blinder 184 is disposed in its position shown in phantom to preclude light rays from striking the exposed unprocessed film strip 22 as it progresses across the cassettes opening 16. This blinder 184 may also include a member adapted to overlie the cassettes opening 42 during film processing operations.

The viewer unit 99 further includes other conventional elements, e.g., an intermittent film advancement mechanism including the claw 192 depicted in FIG. 8, a shutter mechanism and a lens system. It will be appreciated that, once the film strip 22 has been treated with the processing fluid 116 during its initial return to the cassettes supply spool 18, the viewers lamp 170, its drive shaft 21 and its aforementioned intermittent film advancement may be energized to effect a projection of the processed film strip as it is advanced across the cassettes opening 16 towards the takeup spool 20. Of course, during such operations rotation of the cassettes rollers 32 and 34 should be restrained by operation of the viewers snubber pin 73 and the pins 17 withdrawn to permit the pressure plate assembly 36 to slideably engage the film strip 22 against the viewers aperture plate 13. In connection with these film projection operations, light rays from the projection lamp 170 are redirected by the cassettes light reflecting element 38 outwardly of the cassette through the aperture 50 of the pressure plate assembly 36, the film strip 22 and the cassettes opening 16. These now image-carryinglight rays are further redirected by 'a'plurality of mirrors 174, 175 and 176 (See'FIG. 7) and focused by the viewers lens system onto a rear projection viewing screen 196 mounted in the front panel 178 of the viewer 99.

Complementary means may be provided in the viewerand cassette, if desired, to effect a flow of air through the cassette during film processing and/or film projection operations,

To facilitate photographic operations employing the cassette 10, it is desirable that the viewer 99 include an end of film sensing arrangement to provide an indication when the filrn strip 22 has reached either end of its travel between the spools l8 and 20. Such an arrangement may for instance. include a sensor 190, depicted in FIG. 8, operably associated with that portion of the drive shaft 21 for the cassettes takeup spool 20 intermediate that cassette spool and the friction clutch assocourse, during projection operations the rotation of that portion of the drive shaft is normally intermittent due to the'snubbing action of the then stationary rollers '32 and 34 on the film 22. More specifically, since the drive shaft 21 operates through a friction clutch it only rotates to take up film when the projector claw 192 has pushed" sections of the film strip 22 away from frictional engagement with the rollers 32 and 34. Therefore the jam sensing arrangement of the type suggested would include a timing device that would preclude an indication being generated therefrom during such normal intermittent motion of the drive shaft 21. In other words, the jam sensing arrangement would produce an output signal only when the drive shaft 21 had not rotated for a predetermined amount of time in excess of that time required for the claw 192 to engage the film strip 22 a preselected plurality of times. It will be appreci ated that signals provided by the jam, or end-offilm, sensing arrangement to the logic circuit 180 serve to assist that circuit in'sequencing the functions of the operational programs, for instance, reverse-process,

forward-project, reverse-rewind.

FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates the certain opera tional elements of the viewer 99, while FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates the operational sequence of system operations employing those elements. In this respect, it will first be noted by referring to FIG. 8 that the viewer 99 includes a logic circuit 180. The design details of the logic circuit comprises no part of the present invention and, since they may take any suitable form,

mined programs. Further, the logic circuit 180 provides I information to the motor 173 and an associated gear box 182 as necessary for the programmed operations of the viewers drive shafts 19, 21 and 98 and its claw 192. This logic circuit 180 further provides necessary inforl6 1 mation to the lamp switch 171, the step motor 149 and the solenoids 23, 75, 95, 148, 186 and 188 to effect the desired operational programs on the film strip 22.

FIG. 9 clearly illustrates the operational sequence automatically performed by the photographic system when a cassette 10 is inserted into the viewer 99 and the viewer turned on. It should be recognized that FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation and the order of certain steps in the sequence may be reversed if desired. Additionally, certain steps may obviously be performed in unison. Since FIG. 9 is completely selfdescriptive, any further detailed discussion of this operational sequence would be redundant and unnecessarily complicate the specification. l-1owever, it is particularly significant to note that once the viewer has been turned on, its sensor-actuator pin 146 in conjunction with its associated switch automatically receives an indication from the cassette pin 40, i.e., resulting fromthe orientation of the slotted recess 144 of that pin 140,

as to whether the film strip 22 retained in that particular cassette has been processed. If it has not been processed, cooperating means of the cassette 10 and viewer 99 automatically'effect the performance of a first operational program with the film strip 22, i.e., processing, projection and rewind onto supply spool 18. If it has previously been processed, cooperating means of the cassette 10 and viewer 99 automatically effect the performance of an alternate operational program on the film strip 22, i.e., projection and rewind onto the supply spool 18.

Those familiar with the photographic arts will readily appreciate the novel and highly unique advantages of this invention. Obviously the invention may be practiced or embodied in still other ways without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. The preferred embodiment described herein is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims and all variations which come within the meaning of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A film handling cassette comprising:

a first housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus to effect at least film processing operations;

a strip of photographic material stored within said first housing;

a second housing displaceably mounted in said first housing and defining a reservoir chamber;

a container carried by said second housing for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material, said container being p0- sitioned within said housing so that such fluids flows into said reservoir chamber when it is released therefrom;

means carried by said second housing for expressing processing fluid onto said strip of photographic material, said fluid expressing means communicating with said reservoir chamber and being disposed out of operative relationship with respect to said strip of photographic material when said second housing is in a first position and disposed in operative relationship with respect to an incremental section of said strip of photographic material when said second housing is disposed in a second position; and

means responsive to actuating means of such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for effecting the displacement of said second housing from its said first position into its said second position,-for effecting the release of such fluid from said container and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said fluid expressing means to efiect the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid.

2. A photographic film handling cassette for use with apparatus including a housing configured to operably receive said cassette and first means for cooperating with said cassette when said cassette is operably received thereby for performing a first operational program with a strip of photographic material housed within such cassette or alternately performingat least one of other operational programs with the strip of photographic material housed within said cassette and for sensing an indication of said cassette whether said first operational program has been performed, such first apparatus means cooperating with said cassette to effect said first operational program if said first operational program has not been performed or alternately cooperating with said cassette to effect said one other operational program with the strip of photographic material if said first operational program has been performed, said cassette including a housing; a strip of photographic material within said housing; and first means for cooperating with such first apparatus means when said cassette is operably associated therewith to effect said first operational program or alternately cooperating with such first apparatus means to effect said one other operational program and for indicating to such apparatus whether said first operational program has been performed, said first means of said cassette including a rotatably mounted member having a poring said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid and projecting one or more viewable images formed on said strip of photographic material as a result of said treatment and said one other operational program includes projecting said viewable image or images.

5. The. photographic film handling cassette of claim 2 wherein said first operational program includes treating said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid and said one other operational program does not include treating said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid.

6. The photographic film handling cassette of claim 2 wherein such first apparatus means includes a rotatably mounted member and said accessible portion of said rotatably mounted cassette member is configured to be engaged by such rotatably mounted apparatus member.

7. The photographic film handling cassette of claim 2 wherein said first operational program includes treating said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid, said cassette additionally includes means for releasably storing a quantity of such fluid and wherein such fluid is released from said fluid storage means responsive to'the rotation of said rotatably mounted cassette member.

8. A film handling cassette comprising:

a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus for effecting at least film processing operations;

a strip of photographic material stored within said housing; a coating vroller located to communicate with a source of processing fluid and to engage an incremental section of said strip of photographic material to express such processing fluid thereon; means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said coating roller to effect the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid; and means for driving said coating roller in a direction opposite to that in which said strip of photographic material is advanced thereacross, said coating roller driving means including a roller around which said strip of photographic material is disposed and which is rotated responsive to the operation of said advancing means.

9; The cassette of claim 8 additionally including means for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material and means for progressively feeding such fluid to said coating roller when it is released from said fluid storing means.

10. The cassette of claim 9 wherein said means for feeding such fluid to said coating roller comprises capillary means.

11. The cassette of claim 8 wherein such apparatus includes film image projection means and said cassette additionally includes a projection station adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with such film image projection means when said cassette is operably associated with such apparatus.

12. The cassette of claim 8 wherein said cassette additionally includes means for providing access for image carrying light rays to an incremental section of said strip of photographic material.

13. A film handling cassette comprising:

a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus;

a strip of photographic material stored within said housing;

means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material within said cassette housing; and

means for alternately performing one photographic operation with said strip of photographic material during one advancement'thereof within said housing and another photographic operation with said strip of photographic material during another advancement thereof within said housing, said one photographic operation including the application 19 vof a processing fluid to progressive incremental sections of said strip of photographic material, said means for performing said processing operation including a coating roller and means responsive to the operation of said advancing means during said processing operation for effecting the rotation of said coating roller in a direction opposite to that in which said strip of photographic material is advanced therepast said means for alternately performing said operation additionally including means for disabling said coating roller to preclude its rotation duringsaid other photographic operation.

14. A film handling cassette comprising:

a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus for effecting at least film processing operations;

a strip of photographic material stored within said housing;

first means for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material second means for expressing processing fluid onto an incremental section of said strip of photographic material, said second means communicating with such fluid when it is released from said first means, said second means being mounted for displacement between a first position wherein it is disposed in operative relationship with respect to said strip of photographic material and a second position wherein itis disposed in operative relationship with respect to said strip of photographic material;

I third means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for effecting the release of such fluid from said first means, for displacing said second means from its said first position into its said second position and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic-material past said second means to effect the coating of said strip of material with such fluid; and

spring means within said cassette for returning said second means from its said second position towards its said first position following the coating of said strip of material with such .fluid.

15. The cassette of claim 14 wherein said second means includes a coating roller and additionally including means for driving said coating roller. I

"16. The cassette of claim 15 wherein said driving means includes a roller around which said strip of photographic material is disposed within said cassette.

17. The cassette of claim 15 wherein said driving means drives said coating roller in a direction opposite to that which said second means advances said strip of photographic material past said coating roller.

18. The cassette of claim 14 wherein said first means comprises a container and additionally including means for progressively feeding such fluid to said second means when it is released from said container.

19. The cassette of claim 18 wherein said fluid feeding means comprises means for feeding such fluid to said second means'by capillary action.

20. The cassette of claim 14 wherein such photographic apparatus includes film image projection means and said cassette additionally includes a projection station adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with such film image projection means when said cassette is operably associated with such apparatus.

21. A film handling cassette comprising:

a first housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus to effect at least film processing operations;

a strip of photographic material. stored within said first housing; v

a second housing mounted in said first housing;

a container carried by said second housing for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material, said container being configured to release such fluid responsive to a compressiveforce being exerted thereagainst;

first means carried by saidvsecond housing for expressing processing fluid onto said'strip of photographic material, said first means communicating with such fluid when it is released from said container; and I second means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for effecting the release of such fluid from said container and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said first means to effect the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid, said second means including a rotationally mounted member and a rotatably mounted spool, said rotationally mounted member being positioned to selectively exert such a compressive force against 'said container and configured to be engaged by a drive pin of such apparatus, said rotatably mounted spool being connected to said strip of photographic material and configured to be actuated by a drive shaft. of such apparatus, such drive shaft being independent of such drive pin.

22. A film handling cassette comprising:

a first housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus to effect at least film processing operations; a strip of photographic material stored within said first housing;

a second housing mounted in said first housing, said second housing being mounted within said first housing for displacement between a first position wherein said first means is disposed out of operative relationship with respect to said strip of photographic material and a second position wherein said first means is disposed in operative relationship with respect to an incremental section of said strip of photographic material;

a container carried by said second housing for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material;

first means carried by said-second housing'for expressing processing fluid onto said strip of photographic material, said first means communicating with such fluid when it is released from said container; and

second means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for effecting the release of such fluid from said container, for displacing said second housing from its said first position into its said second position and for progressively advancing substantially the'entire 21 length of said strip of photographic material past said first means to effect the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid, said second means including a displaceably mounted member positioned within said housing to selectively first effect the displacement of said second housing from its said first position into its said second position and then the release of such fluid from said container.

23. The cassette of claim 22 additionally including means for returning said second housing from its said second position into its said first position after said strip of photographic material has been coatd with such fluid.

24. The cassette of claim 22 wherein said container comprises a collapsible pod constructed to release such fluid responsive to a compressive force being exerted thereagainst and saidsecond housing additionally includes a support against which said pod is adapted to be pressed under the influence of said displaceably mounted member, said displaceably mounted member being displaced from a first position into a second position in effecting the displacement of said second housing from its said first position into its said second position and the release of such fluid from said pod, said second housing being first displaced into its said second position and then such fluid being expelled from said pod, and wherein said cassette additionally includes means for continually urging said second housing towards its said first position so that, after said displaceably mounted member of said cassette has been displaced into its said second position to facilitate the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid, said second housing can be returned to its said first position by said urging means causing said displaceably mounted member to be returned to a third position intermediate its said first and second positions, said positions of said displaceably mounted member relative to said housing being discernible from a location exteriorly of said cassette and said third position of said displaceably mounted member being indicative of the fact that said strip of photographic material has been coated with such fluid.

25. The cassette of claim 24 wherein said displaceably mounted member is mounted for rotational movement within said cassette.

26. The cassette of claim 25 wherein said rotationally mounted member includes means accessible for engagement by actuating means of such apparatus, the position of said rotationally mounted member being indicative of whether said strip of photographic material has been coated with such fluid.

27. The cassette of claim 24 wherein a plate is displaceably disposed between said displaceably mounted member and said pod.

28. A film handling cassette comprising:

a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus for effecting at least film processing operations;

a strip of photographic material stored within said housing;

means for expressing processing fluid onto an incremental section of said strip of photographic material;

wick means for progressively feeding such processing fluid to said fluid expressing means;

means responsive to actuating means of such apparatus when said cassette is mounted therein for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said fluid expressing means to effect the coating of said strip of material with such fluid; and

means for controlling the-rate at which such fluid is fed to said coating roller, said rate controlling means comprising a support surface against which said wick is positioned and means for compressing an intermediate section of said wick against said support surface to effect a compression of said intermediate section of said wick relative to other sections of said wick disposed immediately adjacent its said intermediate section.

29. A film handling cassette comprising:

a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus for effecting at least film processing operations;

a strip of photographic material stored within said housing;

means for expressing processing fluid onto an incremental section of said strip of photographic material;

means for initially storing aquantity of processing fluid sufficient to treat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographicmaterial, such quantity of processing fluid being slightly in excess of that required to treat the entire length of said strip of photographic material;

capillary means for progressively feeding such processing fluid to said fluid expressing means when it is released from said fluid storage means; and

means responsive to actuating means of such apparatus when said cassette is mounted therein for effecting the release of such fluid from said fluid storage means and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said fluid expressing means to effect the coating of said strip of material with such fluid,

said capillary means being selected to have a capacity for holding at least such excess amount of such processing fluid, whereby, after said strip of photographic material has been treated with such fluid, all such excess fluid is retained in said capillary means.

30. The cassette of claim 29 wherein said fluid storing means comprises a container and additionally including a reservoir chamber positioned to receive substantially the entire quantity of such fluid when it is released from said container, said capillary means serving to draw such fluid from said reservoir chamber and to feed it to said fluid expressing means.

31. A film handling cassette comprising a housing, at least one film guide roller rotatably mounted within said housing, a strip of film stored within said housing and extending around said guide'roller, first normally inoperative means for applying processing fluid to an incremental section of said film strip, second means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for progressively transporting said film strip around said guide roller and transverse said first means and third means for rendering said first means operative whereby substantially the entire length of said film strip may be treated with said processing fluid, said third means including means responsive to the actuation of said second means for selectively actuating said fluid applying means through said guide roller. 

1. A film handling cassette comprising: a first housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus to effect at least film processing operations; a strip of photographic material stored within said first housing; a second housing displaceably mounted in said first housing and defining a reservoir chamber; a container carried by said second housing for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material, said container being positioned within said housing so that such fluids flows into said reservoir chamber when it is released therefrom; means carried by said second housing for expressing processing fluid onto said strip of photographic material, said fluid expressing means communicating with said reservoir chamber and being disposed out of operative relationship with respect to said strip of photographic material when said second housing is in a first position and disposed in operative relationship with respect to an incremental section of said strip of photographic material when said second housing is disposed in a second position; and means responsive to actuating means of such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for effecting the displacement of said second housing from its said first position into its said second position, for effecting the release of such fluid from said container and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said fluid expressing means to effect the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid.
 2. A photographic film handling cassette for use with apparatus including a housing configured to operably receive said cassette and first means for cooperating with said cassette when said cassette is operably received thereby for performing a first operational program with a strip of photographic material housed within such cassette or alternately performing at least one of other operational programs with the strip of photographic material housed within said cassette and for sensing an indication of said cassette whether said first operational program has been performed, such first apparatus means cooperating with said cassette to effect said first operational program if said first operational program has not been performed or alternately cooperating with said cassette to effect said one other operational program with the strip of photographic material if said first operational program has been performed, said cassette including a housing; a strip of photographic material within said housing; and first means for cooperating with such first apparatus means when said cassette is operably associated therewith to effect said first operational program or alternately cooperating with such first apparatus means to effect said one other operational program and for indicating to such apparatus whetHer said first operational program has been performed, said first means of said cassette including a rotatably mounted member having a portion thereof accessible from a position exteriorly of said cassette housing and configured to indicate its orientation with respect to said cassette housing and which is rotatably displaced in connection with the performance of said first operational program.
 3. The photographic film handling cassette of claim 2 wherein said first operational program includes treating said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid.
 4. The photogrpahic film handling cassette of claim 2 wherein said first operational program includes treating said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid and projecting one or more viewable images formed on said strip of photographic material as a result of said treatment and said one other operational program includes projecting said viewable image or images.
 5. The photographic film handling cassette of claim 2 wherein said first operational program includes treating said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid and said one other operational program does not include treating said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid.
 6. The photographic film handling cassette of claim 2 wherein such first apparatus means includes a rotatably mounted member and said accessible portion of said rotatably mounted cassette member is configured to be engaged by such rotatably mounted apparatus member.
 7. The photographic film handling cassette of claim 2 wherein said first operational program includes treating said strip of photographic material with a processing fluid, said cassette additionally includes means for releasably storing a quantity of such fluid and wherein such fluid is released from said fluid storage means responsive to the rotation of said rotatably mounted cassette member.
 8. A film handling cassette comprising: a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus for effecting at least film processing operations; a strip of photographic material stored within said housing; a coating roller located to communicate with a source of processing fluid and to engage an incremental section of said strip of photographic material to express such processing fluid thereon; means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said coating roller to effect the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid; and means for driving said coating roller in a direction opposite to that in which said strip of photographic material is advanced thereacross, said coating roller driving means including a roller around which said strip of photographic material is disposed and which is rotated responsive to the operation of said advancing means.
 9. The cassette of claim 8 additionally including means for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material and means for progressively feeding such fluid to said coating roller when it is released from said fluid storing means.
 10. The cassette of claim 9 wherein said means for feeding such fluid to said coating roller comprises capillary means.
 11. The cassette of claim 8 wherein such apparatus includes film image projection means and said cassette additionally includes a projection station adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with such film image projection means when said cassette is operably associated with such apparatus.
 12. The cassette of claim 8 wherein said cassette additionally includes means for providing access for image carrying light rays to an incremental section of said strip of photographic material.
 13. A film handling cassette comprising: a housing configured for operable association with photograpHic apparatus; a strip of photographic material stored within said housing; means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material within said cassette housing; and means for alternately performing one photographic operation with said strip of photographic material during one advancement thereof within said housing and another photographic operation with said strip of photographic material during another advancement thereof within said housing, said one photographic operation including the application of a processing fluid to progressive incremental sections of said strip of photographic material, said means for performing said processing operation including a coating roller and means responsive to the operation of said advancing means during said processing operation for effecting the rotation of said coating roller in a direction opposite to that in which said strip of photographic material is advanced therepast said means for alternately performing said operation additionally including means for disabling said coating roller to preclude its rotation during said other photographic operation.
 14. A film handling cassette comprising: a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus for effecting at least film processing operations; a strip of photographic material stored within said housing; first means for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material second means for expressing processing fluid onto an incremental section of said strip of photographic material, said second means communicating with such fluid when it is released from said first means, said second means being mounted for displacement between a first position wherein it is disposed in operative relationship with respect to said strip of photographic material and a second position wherein it is disposed in operative relationship with respect to said strip of photographic material; third means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for effecting the release of such fluid from said first means, for displacing said second means from its said first position into its said second position and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said second means to effect the coating of said strip of material with such fluid; and spring means within said cassette for returning said second means from its said second position towards its said first position following the coating of said strip of material with such fluid.
 15. The cassette of claim 14 wherein said second means includes a coating roller and additionally including means for driving said coating roller.
 16. The cassette of claim 15 wherein said driving means includes a roller around which said strip of photographic material is disposed within said cassette.
 17. The cassette of claim 15 wherein said driving means drives said coating roller in a direction opposite to that which said second means advances said strip of photographic material past said coating roller.
 18. The cassette of claim 14 wherein said first means comprises a container and additionally including means for progressively feeding such fluid to said second means when it is released from said container.
 19. The cassette of claim 18 wherein said fluid feeding means comprises means for feeding such fluid to said second means by capillary action.
 20. The cassette of claim 14 wherein such photographic apparatus includes film image projection means and said cassette additionally includes a projection station adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with such film image projection means when said cassette is operably associated with such apparatus.
 21. A film handling cassEtte comprising: a first housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus to effect at least film processing operations; a strip of photographic material stored within said first housing; a second housing mounted in said first housing; a container carried by said second housing for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material, said container being configured to release such fluid responsive to a compressive force being exerted thereagainst; first means carried by said second housing for expressing processing fluid onto said strip of photographic material, said first means communicating with such fluid when it is released from said container; and second means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for effecting the release of such fluid from said container and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said first means to effect the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid, said second means including a rotationally mounted member and a rotatably mounted spool, said rotationally mounted member being positioned to selectively exert such a compressive force against said container and configured to be engaged by a drive pin of such apparatus, said rotatably mounted spool being connected to said strip of photographic material and configured to be actuated by a drive shaft of such apparatus, such drive shaft being independent of such drive pin.
 22. A film handling cassette comprising: a first housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus to effect at least film processing operations; a strip of photographic material stored within said first housing; a second housing mounted in said first housing, said second housing being mounted within said first housing for displacement between a first position wherein said first means is disposed out of operative relationship with respect to said strip of photographic material and a second position wherein said first means is disposed in operative relationship with respect to an incremental section of said strip of photographic material; a container carried by said second housing for releasably storing a sufficient quantity of processing fluid to coat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material; first means carried by said second housing for expressing processing fluid onto said strip of photographic material, said first means communicating with such fluid when it is released from said container; and second means for cooperating with such apparatus when said cassette is operably associated therewith for effecting the release of such fluid from said container, for displacing said second housing from its said first position into its said second position and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said first means to effect the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid, said second means including a displaceably mounted member positioned within said housing to selectively first effect the displacement of said second housing from its said first position into its said second position and then the release of such fluid from said container.
 23. The cassette of claim 22 additionally including means for returning said second housing from its said second position into its said first position after said strip of photographic material has been coatd with such fluid.
 24. The cassette of claim 22 wherein said container comprises a collapsible pod constructed to release such fluid responsive to a compressive force being exerted thereagainst and said second housing additionally includes a support against which said pod is adapted to be pressed under the influence of said displaceably mounted member, said displaceably mOunted member being displaced from a first position into a second position in effecting the displacement of said second housing from its said first position into its said second position and the release of such fluid from said pod, said second housing being first displaced into its said second position and then such fluid being expelled from said pod, and wherein said cassette additionally includes means for continually urging said second housing towards its said first position so that, after said displaceably mounted member of said cassette has been displaced into its said second position to facilitate the coating of said strip of photographic material with such fluid, said second housing can be returned to its said first position by said urging means causing said displaceably mounted member to be returned to a third position intermediate its said first and second positions, said positions of said displaceably mounted member relative to said housing being discernible from a location exteriorly of said cassette and said third position of said displaceably mounted member being indicative of the fact that said strip of photographic material has been coated with such fluid.
 25. The cassette of claim 24 wherein said displaceably mounted member is mounted for rotational movement within said cassette.
 26. The cassette of claim 25 wherein said rotationally mounted member includes means accessible for engagement by actuating means of such apparatus, the position of said rotationally mounted member being indicative of whether said strip of photographic material has been coated with such fluid.
 27. The cassette of claim 24 wherein a plate is displaceably disposed between said displaceably mounted member and said pod.
 28. A film handling cassette comprising: a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus for effecting at least film processing operations; a strip of photographic material stored within said housing; means for expressing processing fluid onto an incremental section of said strip of photographic material; wick means for progressively feeding such processing fluid to said fluid expressing means; means responsive to actuating means of such apparatus when said cassette is mounted therein for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said fluid expressing means to effect the coating of said strip of material with such fluid; and means for controlling the rate at which such fluid is fed to said coating roller, said rate controlling means comprising a support surface against which said wick is positioned and means for compressing an intermediate section of said wick against said support surface to effect a compression of said intermediate section of said wick relative to other sections of said wick disposed immediately adjacent its said intermediate section.
 29. A film handling cassette comprising: a housing configured for operable association with photographic apparatus for effecting at least film processing operations; a strip of photographic material stored within said housing; means for expressing processing fluid onto an incremental section of said strip of photographic material; means for initially storing a quantity of processing fluid sufficient to treat substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material, such quantity of processing fluid being slightly in excess of that required to treat the entire length of said strip of photographic material; capillary means for progressively feeding such processing fluid to said fluid expressing means when it is released from said fluid storage means; and means responsive to actuating means of such apparatus when said cassette is mounted therein for effecting the release of such fluid from said fluid storage means and for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said strip of photographic material past said fluid expressing means to effect the coAting of said strip of material with such fluid, said capillary means being selected to have a capacity for holding at least such excess amount of such processing fluid, whereby, after said strip of photographic material has been treated with such fluid, all such excess fluid is retained in said capillary means.
 30. The cassette of claim 29 wherein said fluid storing means comprises a container and additionally including a reservoir chamber positioned to receive substantially the entire quantity of such fluid when it is released from said container, said capillary means serving to draw such fluid from said reservoir chamber and to feed it to said fluid expressing means.
 31. A film handling cassette comprising a housing, at least one film guide roller rotatably mounted within said housing, a strip of film stored within said housing and extending around said guide roller, first normally inoperative means for applying processing fluid to an incremental section of said film strip, second means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for progressively transporting said film strip around said guide roller and transverse said first means and third means for rendering said first means operative whereby substantially the entire length of said film strip may be treated with said processing fluid, said third means including means responsive to the actuation of said second means for selectively actuating said fluid applying means through said guide roller. 